Tinubu’s Wife, Atiku, Obi Mourn Arise News Anchor Somtochukwu Maduagwu

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Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, and Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, have joined prominent voices mourning the death of Somtochukwu Christelle Maduagwu, a 29-year-old anchor with Arise News, who died in Abuja on Monday.

Maduagwu, popularly known as Sommie, lost her life after reportedly jumping from the balcony of her Katampe residence in the Federal Capital Territory while attempting to escape suspected armed robbers.

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First Lady: “A Life Cut Short in Her Prime”

In a condolence message on Tuesday, Mrs Tinubu described Maduagwu as “one of the nation’s young and brilliant minds in the journalism profession.”

She said it was painful to see her life “cut short in her prime,” while expressing sympathy to the deceased’s family, friends, colleagues, and the Chairman of Arise News Media, Chief Nduka Obaigbena.

The First Lady also expressed hope that the perpetrators would be apprehended swiftly and brought to justice.

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Atiku: “Deeply Saddened”

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, in a tribute posted on his X handle on Monday, said he was “deeply saddened” by the incident.

“I wish to express my deepest condolences to the family of Ms. Somtochukwu Maduagwu, an Arise TV newscaster who was killed in an armed robbery attack in Abuja,” he wrote.

“My condolences also go to the management and staff of @ARISEtv. It is my prayer that the family, friends and colleagues be comforted by this loss at such a very young age,” he added.

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Obi: “A Huge Blow to Journalism and the Nation”

Peter Obi, also writing on X, described Maduagwu as “a brilliant young anchor and trained lawyer whose voice engaged, informed, and inspired many.”

He said her passing was “not just a personal loss to her family and colleagues but a huge blow to journalism and to our nation.”

The former Anambra governor also underscored the importance of prioritising citizens’ safety.
“No Nigerian should go to bed fearful of what the night may bring, or lose their life in such senseless ways,” he wrote.

“My thoughts and prayers are with her grieving family, the Arise News family, and all who mourn her. May her soul rest in peace, and may we, as a nation, work harder to build a country where lives are valued and protected.”

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A Tragic Loss for Nigerian Journalism

Maduagwu’s death has sparked grief within the media community, with tributes pouring in across social platforms.

Her death adds to a troubling record of attacks on journalists in the nation’s capital, with several robbery-related fatalities reported in recent years.

Police authorities in Abuja had earlier confirmed they had launched a full investigation into the circumstances of her death, with the Commissioner of Police vowing that those responsible would be tracked down and prosecuted.